INTRODUCTION.

The lessons here outlined are suitable for children
of twelve years of age, and upwards. For younger
pupils they would require much adaptation, and even
then they would not be so good as some simpler method,
such as following the growth of one plant, and comparing
it with others at every step. The little ones
profit most by describing the very simple things that
they see, without much reference to theories.

The outlines follow the plan of Dr. Gray’s First
Lessons and How Plants Grow, and are intended to be
used in connection with either of those books.
The necessary references will be found at the end of
every section. The book contains also references
to a course of interesting reading in connection with
the subjects of the lessons.

The lessons may begin, like the text-books, with the
subject of Germination, if the seeds are planted before
they are required for use, but it is generally preferable
to use the first recitation with the class for planting
the seeds, in order to have them under the direct care
of the pupils. Some general talks about plants
are therefore put at the beginning to occupy the time
until the seedlings are ready for study.

Some Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) and Morning-Glories
should be planted from the first in boxes of earth
and allowed to grow over the window, as they are often
used for illustrations.

I.

Plantsandtheiruses.[1]

[Footnote 1: This section may be omitted, and
the lessons begun with Seedlings, if the teacher prefer.]

What is Botany? The pupils are very apt to say
at first that it is learning about flowers.
The teacher can draw their attention to the fact that
flowers are only a part of the plant, and that Botany
is also the study of the leaves, the stem, and the
root. Botany is the science of plants.
Ask them what the Geranium is. Tell them to name
some other plants. The teacher should keep a
few growing plants in the schoolroom for purposes
of illustration.

Ask them what else there is in the world besides plants.
By this question the three kingdoms, animal, vegetable,
and mineral, are brought up. It will give occasion
for a discussion of the earth and what it contains,
the mountains, formed of rocks and soil, the plants
growing on the earth, and the animals that inhabit
it, including man. Let them name the three kingdoms
with some example of each. Which of these kingdoms
contain living things? The words organic
and inorganic can be brought in here. An
organ ([Greek: Ergon], meaning work) is
any part that does a special work, as the leaves,
the stem of a plant, and the eye, the ear of animals.
An organism is a living being made up of such
organs. The inorganic world contains the mineral
kingdom; the organic world includes the vegetable
and animal kingdoms.